Rebecca Martin & Larry Grenadier Duo play in Marlboro

Better known in Kingston as a community organizer and urban pioneer, Rebecca Martin brings her singular style and new songs from her soon-to-be-released album to the Falcon next week.

Former executive director of the Kingston Land Trust, Martin said she has always sung, but has done so professionally since 1990.

On Wednesday, Martin will perform songs from "Twain," her new album, at The Falcon, 1348 Route 9W, Marlboro, accompanied by her husband, Larry Grenadier, on bass. The restaurant opens at 5:30 p.m., with music at 7 p.m. There is no cover, but a donation of $20 is suggested.

Performing with only the bass line, Martin said, connects deeply within her.

"The competing needs of safety and my core, to completely and utterly surrender to risk," Martin said. "But, that's where good learning comes from."

Originally from Maine, Martin traveled through New Paltz, taking courses at the university in communication and philosophy, on her way to New York City, where she landed a job at MTV.

"I'm always doing the thing I was made to do," Martin said. "I was able to support myself at MTV, thanks to the production classes I had taken."

In New York, Martin met up with Jesse Harris and the two formed Once Blue, which signed with BMI Records.

"We toured during the heyday of record labels, when they were more of a pathway to how things were done," Martin said. "We were in the mix and opened for everybody - Sean Colvin, Squeeze, so many." Once Blue was active from 1995 to 1998, when it broke up.

"That's when I started my own work," Martin said. She said she identifies most with the jazz world, but hates to categorize her music.

"I think every musician feels that way, because it never tells the whole story. There's always crossover to other genres, so categories are more a reference point for the listener," she said.

Asked how long it has taken to arrive musically where she is, Martin said, simply, "My whole life."

However, she said, the turning point came in 2005, when she was called to record with Paul Motian, drummer for Bill Evans, both jazz legends.

"I was asked to record with Paul's 'On Broadway' series, the only singer he recorded with in that series," Martin said. The record, "On Broadway, Volume 4, Paradox of Continuity" was released in 2006.

"It changed everything, working with him," Martin said. She said Motian, who was 75 at the time, did a couple of takes with bass, drum, piano, tenor sax with Martin on vocals.

"Done!" she said. "The way he does it helped shape where I am today."

Martin said she is driven to make music.

"The record also helped me hear my authentic voice, what I sound like. And, that was the beginning of accepting how I sound. I think every musician struggles with that, with being present and doing what you can. And, you make something happen that is better than anything you could have imagined," Martin said.

Having a child around that time also changed everything, Martin said.

"We made a commitment to Kingston, to stay here. I've put my heart and soul into this community and seen it change for the good. That makes me happy," Martin said.

Martin said she volunteers at the George Washington Elementary School, where she has created and manages the school website.

"That makes me happy, too," she said.

"Twain," which will be released nationally on March 26, has 13 new songs written by Martin, and one jazz standard, "Sophisticated Lady," written by Duke Ellington.

Martin said she writes songs the same way every time.

"It always begins with the melody, played over and over. Then, shapes and sounds and vowels begin to emerge, to become phrases, and phrases become song. It's not a linear process," she said.

"I'm like a weaver of music," she said. "The songs are short stories, complete in themselves. It's my unique way of getting the music out of myself, so it finds its own path to exit.

To celebrate "Twain," Chef Rich Reeve of Elephant, 310 Wall St., is presenting a hometown release party for Martin from 6-9 p.m. on April 1 at the restaurant, featuring a Galachian tapas menu with accompanying wines to match songs on the record.

The event will feature what Martin described as "amazing food," an intimate concert by her and Grenadier, and a signed copy of the CD.

The cost is $75 per person and reservations are required. They can be made by calling (845) 339-9319. Proceeds after expenses will be donated to Dig Kids, the urban farming project for teens that Martin designed and which she continues to manage as a volunteer.